Weinberg wrote 26 symphonies in all, four chamber symphonies
and twenty two designated symphonies, though the last, No.22 is left in a draft
short score. This new release features the Siberian Symphony Orchestrawww.conductorvasiliev.com/#!sso/c1guvunder their Principal Conductor, Dmitry
Vasilyevwww.conductorvasiliev.com. This is an important release given that this last completed, full scale symphony
is a major score lasting some fifty three minutes complete with wordless
soprano in the last section.

However, first on this new disc is a work from 1950, his Polish Tunes, Op.47, No.2. Premiered by
the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, it was conducted by Karl Eliasberg, the
conductor who famously performed Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony in Leningrad
during the siege in 1942. However, this is a much lighter work, the Adagio of whichopens with a mournful tune for wind instruments before the Allegro arrives, a jollier theme that
slows for a clarinet solo before leading into the Andantino with a plodding melody for oboe over pizzicato strings. Soon
a broader tune arrives which leads to a halting melody for woodwind and strings
before a lovely little coda.

The Allegro has a
sprightly theme for woodwind that is taken forward by the strings with brass
and woodwind interventions as the music gallops ahead. A kind of fanfare opens
the Allegro moderato before a strong
dance theme with emphatic rhythm. There is a lovely little trio section before
the music dances, happily forward and, though a quieter section follows, there
is a riotous coda.

This is an attractive work, light in feel but full of good
humour.

Weinberg’s Symphony
No.21, Op.152, Kaddish,composed between 1989 and 1991,is another matter, a deeply serious
paean to the victims of the Warsaw Ghetto and dedicated to them.

In a single movement, though in six clearly defined
sections, it is subtitled Kaddish – the Jewish prayer for the dead. A broad,
melancholy string theme, underpinned by timpani, opens the extended Largo.Soon a solo viola theme is heard against a hushed orchestra, surely a
lament for the dead. The orchestra then rises up passionately before percussive
piano chords are sounded, followed by a brass chorale. Later the music falls to
a solo clarinet playing a sad theme over a hushed orchestra that leads to a
passage for woodwind. Sonorous strings appear before a drum announces a solo
piano soon joined by a solo viola. Brass intone a theme before the strings lead
quietly on. Suddenly the ear is caught by the piano again but this time it is
playing a quote from Chopin’s First Ballade, just briefly before the hushed
strings lead to the coda where the music seems to effect some resolution as the
celeste plays a rising motif taken up by a clarinet.

The rising motif is reflected in the more dynamic opening of
the Allegro molto where woodwind
scurry around before the rising theme is varied around the orchestra,
unsettling and full of anxiety and agitation. Soon the brass bring a weight and
grandeur and, occasionally, the sound world of Shostakovich appears in this
agitated music. There are agitated sweeps of strings punctuated by woodwind, becoming
more dramatic and louder in the coda.

A drum sounds dramatically to open the Largo with the agitated nature of the music retained as the brass
sounds an anxious theme. But suddenly the music drops to a hush with a quiet
flute melody soon taken by the brass. Then a double bass brings a little tune
before various instruments add odd little touches. The solo double bass returns
but brass come in over the top. Soon the sound of a Jewish klezmer ensemble is
heard in the winds and lower strings before we are led to the Presto section, an orchestral gallop
that opens manically, with the music flying forward. The music slows for a more
contemplative section with a short violin solo and woodwind passage before melancholy
strings lead to the Andantino.

A xylophone plays a little tune over a static orchestra soon
taken by pizzicato violin. A bass clarinet joins before the pizzicato violin
and xylophone respond to each other. A broader, reflective orchestra section
follows, punctuated by brass then woodwind before rising with agitated strings soaring
upwards, soon joined by the weight of the whole orchestra in a tremendous
outpouring of emotion.

A final outburst leads into the Lento with piano chords hammered out, cymbal clashes with other
percussion and a cry of passion from the strings. There is a repeated outburst
of chiming percussion, punctuated by string cries before falling to a hushed
woodwind passage with clarinet solo. The lower strings join followed by soprano
Veronika Bartenyeva in her wordless part, intoning a melancholy melody against
hushed static strings, again joined by a clarinet. This is a haunting moment
that sends a chill through one. The solo piano returns unexpectedly with another
brief Chopin Ballade quotation before a little string ensemble appears in a
quiet, falling motif. A harmonium quietly playing a rising and falling motif is
heard, ghostly in its strange theme. A melancholy clarinet enters before the soprano
returns more passionately and the music leaps up dramatically. Timpani sound
and there are agitated strings before the music falls to just a flute and hushed
strings as the coda arrives with no cheer.

This is an important addition to the Weinberg discography. Dmitry
Vasilyev and the Siberian Symphony Orchestra do a tremendous job. The recording
has a little string edge but overall is good and detailed and there are excellent
notes from David Fanning.

If you have the slightest interest in Russian music of the
20th century then this disc is a must.

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About The Classical Reviewer

The Classical Reviewer has been involved in music for many years, as a classical record distributor, as a newspaper concert reviewer and writer of articles relating to music as well as reviewing for Harpsichord and Fortepiano magazine.

He assisted in the cataloguing of the scores of the late British composer George Lloyd and has co-authored a memoir of his friendship with the composer.

Having a particular interest in British music, he regularly undertakes talks on Elgar.

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